3 Life-Changing Reasons to Become an Egg Donor

It’s human nature to want to help people, but many of us wonder how we can make a real difference in the world. Did you know you can help transform multiple lives with only one selfless act? If you can donate your eggs, you can leave a positive impact that lasts a lifetime.

For many couples, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) using donor eggs is their only chance of having a family. This is particularly the case for women 35 and over, whose age affects their egg quality and ability to conceive using their own eggs. You’ll help these women and others, like LGBTQ couples, by donating your eggs. If this sounds like it may be the right path for you, here are three life-changing reasons to become an egg donor.

1. You Have a Unique Opportunity to Help Others

Becoming an egg donor gives you the opportunity to help someone who desperately wants to have a family. For many egg donor recipients, you’re their only chance to realize their dream of having a child.

You’re in a unique position to help others who’ve been battling infertility for years or are physically unable to conceive. Egg donors have an incredible opportunity to demonstrate empathy and compassion to those experiencing significant feelings of grief and loss because of their inability to conceive.

2. You Can Make a Lasting Impact

Donating your eggs has a wide-ranging impact that lasts a lifetime. You’ll be giving others the opportunity to bring new life into this world and create precious memories. You have the power to bring untold, life-long happiness to a family.

3. Empowerment

There are many things in our busy lives we don’t have power or control over. Imagine how disempowered an infertile woman or couple must feel after receiving this diagnosis? As an egg donor, you’ll provide an important sense of empowerment – the prospect to create a family. In turn, this can also give you an amazing feeling of empowerment and pride.

What’s Involved in Becoming an Egg Donor?

The first step to becoming an egg donor is selecting a reputable egg donor network or program and undergoing their screening process.

Egg donor screening identifies candidates who can provide high quality eggs with the best chance of resulting in pregnancy. The screening process may differ from program to program, but egg donor candidates can expect to be screened for the following:

* Age – most candidates are required to be between the ages of 21 and 32

* Whether you smoke or drink alcohol

* Sexually transmitted diseases

* Good health – both physically and emotionally

* A willingness to undergo expanded genetic screening

* Ability to self-administer injectable medications

Additionally, potential egg donors need to meet with a psychologist and undergo simple medical procedures, such as ultrasounds and blood tests. Approved egg donors must be available to attend medical appointments and receive treatment for approximately four months.

The Stimulation & Retrieval Process

As an egg donor, you’ll receive a series of self-injectable medications to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs. During this time, visits to your clinic are necessary to monitor your health and progress via bloodwork and transvaginal ultrasounds. Your specialist will identify the best window of time to retrieve your eggs. They will then ask you to administer a “trigger shot” to release the mature eggs for retrieval.

Mature eggs are retrieved in a short procedure under light anesthesia. With the guidance of ultrasound, a thin needle will be passed through your vagina to your ovaries. The eggs will then be retrieved from your ovary follicles via the needle, then frozen and stored for future use. While recovery time differs for everyone, many donors are able to return to their day-to-day activities 24 hours after the procedure. Your Emotions

It’s not unusual for egg donors to experience a wide range of emotions throughout the egg donation process. Rest assured, your clinic and donor program are both available to answer any questions, concerns, and to discuss your feelings. It may help to remind yourself that you’re changing multiple lives for the better. Are you ready to make a real difference by becoming an egg donor?